Just an hour outside Glasgow, nestled in the heart of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park near the village of Aberfoyle, lies Duchray Castle.
And it's an absolute gem.
Set in 80 acres (which includes 12 miles of river fishing rights) it's the sort of castle that you might find on a postcard rather than in an estate agent's window (the agent in question is Savills, incidentally, who must have been thrilled to get the call about this one).
It even has a fascinating story behind it: Rob Roy apparently stayed here once, and was almost trapped there when a group of Red Coats game to take him away.
The legend – as told by Sir Walter Scott himself – is that the castle's then-owners kept the soldiers talking while Rob Roy made his escape. Though how he could tear himself away from such a spot is a bit of mystery.
Inside, thankfully, the castle has been massively upgraded from its 16th century origins (as you might expect from a property currently being used as an upmarket B&B and wedding venue).
The courtyard is beautifully kept, for example.
The bedrooms too – four of them – are exactly as plush as you'd hope.
And as for the dining room? Well, it's barrel-vaulted, beautifully-lit and absolutely charming.
The rest of the rooms are just as nicely done, and there's also a more modern two-bedroom annexe where, at present, the owners and operators live.
Beyond the walls there are seven acres of lawns, a hedged rose garden, a well, tennis court and various workshops and outbuildings. The 12 miles of fishing rights are on Duchray Water, a major tributary of the Forth. Together with the 15 acres of grazing land and 60-odd acres of woodland teeming with deer, red squirrels and so on, you could get thoroughly lost in nature.
The asking price for all this? £1.65 million. Last time we checked, that was about what you'd pay for a three-bedroom terraced house in Chiswick.
(We just checked again - it is.)
Full details and more pics are on the Savills website.
-
If the future of Ferrari is electric vehicles, then it is our future tooIt's widely believed that Ferrari will unveil its first electric car this year. It's the signal that the internal combustion era is coming to an end.
-
Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villaIgnore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
-
A fairytale castle peeking above the treetops of Cumbria is for sale at just £2 millionAugill Castle has a wonderful backstory and a lifestyle business attached. .Annunciata Elwes tells more.
-
A £21 million castle that's come up for sale for the first time in 700 yearsRipley Castle in North Yorkshire has been the family home of the Ingilbys since the early 1300s. It's steeped in history, has a list of famous visitors over the centuries that include James I and Oliver Cromwell, and is now on the open market. Annabel Dixon takes a look.
-
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale, starting from under £700kA look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
-
A true once-in-a-lifetime chance as 554 acres of blissful English countryside come up for sale in a location just 45 miles from central LondonPenny Churchill looks at the Southend Estate, where hundreds of acres of space are on the market just a stone's throw from the capital.
-
The Scottish house of your dreams has come up for sale beside a loch in the heart of the HighlandsLairg Lodge is a glorious Highland retreat in a spectacular location. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
The £30 million Dorset estate that comes with a 200-year-old mansion, a cricket ground, a nature reserve and an entire villageThe Bridehead Estate in Dorset has come up for sale — and it's quite an astonishing opportunity. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
3,000 pristine acres of Loch Lomond National Park, where red squirrels roam spectacular woodland, have come up for saleThe magnificent Cashel Estate has come to the market, a true Scottish paradise.
-
'One of Britain's greatest estates', complete with castle, river and 711 acres, is up for sale for the first time in a generationCorby Castle in Cumbria is a true rarity: a Grade I-listed masterpiece that is on the market for the first time in a generation. Penny Churchill takes a look.
